Ch. íV. south AMERICA. 35 



Jadies and other white women fmoke in their houfes, 

 a decency not obllrved either by the women of the 

 other calls, nor by the men in general, who regard 

 neither time nor place. The manner of uiing it is, 

 by flender rol's compofcd of the leaves of that plant; 

 and the women have a particular manner of inhaling 

 ■the fmoke. They put the lighted part of the roll into 

 -their mouths, and there continue it a long time 

 without its being quenched, or the fire incommoding 

 them. A compliment paid to thofe for whom they 

 profefs an intimacy and efteem, is, to light their to- 

 bacco for them, and to hand them round to thole 

 who vifit them. To refufe the offer would be a mark 

 of rudenefs not eaiily digefted ; and ac-curdingly they 

 are very cautious of paying this compliment to any 

 but thofe whom they previouily know to be ufed to 

 tobacco, lilis cufiom the ladies learn in their child- 

 hood from their nurfes, who are Negro flaves ; it is 

 ÍO common among perfons of rank, that thofe who 

 come trom Europe eaiily join in it, if they intend to 

 make any conliderable iiay in the country. 



One of the mofi: favourite amufements of the na- 

 tives here, is a ball, or Fandango. Thefe are the dif- 

 tinguillied rejoicings on feftivals and remarkable days. 

 But while the galleon's, guarda cofías, or other Spa- 

 nifh fhips are here, they are moil common, and at 

 the fame time conduéfed with the leaft order ; the 

 crews of the ihips forcing themfelves into their ball- 

 rooms. Thefe diverfions, in houfes of diftinction, 

 are conduóled in a very regular manner; they open 

 with Spanilli dances, and are fucceeded by thofe of 

 the country, which are not without ípirit and grace- 

 fulnefs. Thefe are accompanied with tinging, and 

 the parties rarely break np before daylight. 



The E'andangos, or balls, of the populace, confift 

 principally in drinking brandy and wine, intermixed 

 with indecent and fcandalous motions and geiiures; 

 and thefe continual rounds of drinking foon give rife 



P 4 ÍO 



